Briatore likened Vettel's situation at Ferrari last season, where he was outperformd by novice Charles Leclerc, to the one experienced in Alonso's first stint at McLaren when Lewis Hamilton joined the team.

"In F1® it has always been about having the winning recipe," he added.

"You must have one driver who is focused on the world championship and the other who collects big points, snatching them from rivals.

"Vettel paid for the fact that a very fast boy arrived at the team. It surprised him and the team, as happened at McLaren with Hamilton.

"Two drivers at the same level in a team eventually risk taking points off each other."

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